2027 NFL draft: Black quarterbacks poised to make comeback

“Wait till next year” is a common rallying cry in sports. When it comes to Black quarterbacks and the upcoming NFL draft, the sentiment feels more relevant than ever this year.

After a good stretch in which standout Black college passers were among the league’s most coveted prospects — from 2011-25, 19 were selected in the first round — none went in the opening round of the NFL’s signature offseason event Thursday in Pittsburgh.

But the 2027 draft could mark a return to form.

With many of the nation’s top Black signal-callers returning to college next season, that group is shaping up to feature several high-round picks. Dante Moore of Oregon, Darian Mensah of Miami, LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina, DJ Lagway of Baylor and Trinidad Chambliss of Mississippi head the list of quarterbacks scouts will monitor closely. ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid will have his eyes on them, too.

In fact, while looking ahead to next year’s draft, Reid sees the potential for another strong class of Black quarterbacks.

“I handle our [ESPN’s] 2027 way-too-early mock draft, so I’m actually in the middle of doing it [reviewing game film] right now,” Reid said in a phone interview recently. “There’s a lot of excitement, and rightfully so, about these quarterbacks – starting with Moore.”

Last season, his first as Oregon’s starter, Moore shined while leading the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they lost to eventual national champion Indiana. Despite struggling in the loss to the Hoosiers, Moore seemed well-positioned to be a high pick in this draft. Ultimately, the 20-year-old decided to return to school.

In 2024, Moore, after transferring from UCLA to Oregon, backed up current Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Having started only 20 games in college, Moore determined he needed more time to hone his skills. Reid, a onetime starting quarterback at HBCU North Carolina Central, gets it.

“A lot of people thought he could have come out this year and potentially have been a top-three pick,” Reid said. “He’s very smooth. He operates the offense at a very high level. He took that bit of a redshirt year behind Dillon Gabriel and it paid off for him.

“He reminds me a lot of C. J. Stroud during his time at Ohio State. He doesn’t have a lot of those high-end traits. But it’s kind of like an ace pitcher [in baseball]. It’s just great to see him operate. And when he goes and operates, there’s a wow factor to it.”

Mensah, who played for Duke last season, is another quarterback who has wowed fans and scouts alike. While turning heads in the college game, Mensah has twice been the most coveted quarterback in the transfer portal.

As a redshirt freshman starter, Mensah led Tulane to the American Athletic Conference title game. He then moved on to Duke, and next season he’ll lead Miami, which lost to Indiana in the CFP national championship game.

At the highest level of football, there’s also buzz about Mensah, Reid said.

“There’s a lot because of what he did at Duke last year — the success he had throughout the season,” Reid said. “Now, he’s stepping into that spot in Miami with all the talent they’ll have around him.”

In terms of potential, Reid is most intrigued by Sellers of South Carolina.

Although Sellers took a step backward last season after stirring optimism as a redshirt freshman starter, the passer’s physical tools are top shelf, Reid said.

“I paid a lot of attention to him last season. Yes, he faced some challenges, but he’s every bit of 6-3, 240 [pounds] with one of the most powerful arms that I’ve seen,” Reid said. “Potentially … he just has so much potential. He just needs to bundle all those traits together.”

Lagway is hoping a fresh start will help him shoot up draft boards next year.

A celebrated recruit in the high school class of 2024, Lagway didn’t have the success he envisioned at Florida. Next season, he’ll play for Baylor.

The change of scenery could be good for him, Reid said.

“Lagway has a world of potential. And at times at Florida, you could see it,” he said. “But he does have some things he needs to work on.”

Then there’s Chambliss of Mississippi, whose draft ranking for next season will take Reid longer to determine. In that regard, Reid isn’t alone.

Many draft prognosticators are eager to evaluate more data on Chambliss, who has started only 13 games at college football’s top level.

After transferring from Division II Ferris State, Chambliss began the 2025 season as Mississippi’s backup but reached the top of its depth chart early in the season. Chambliss emerged as a catalyst for one of the greatest seasons in school history. He started the final 13 games and directed the Rebels to the CFP semifinals.

“People need to see a little bit more from him on this level, a bigger sample size, especially with him coming from [Division II],” Reid said. “But we saw what he could do in the playoffs. Even though he is undersized, he has a little bit of Russell Wilson to him.

“He has that thick build, like what Russ had coming out of Wisconsin. He has a smooth release as well. The thing that I love the most about him is the poise that he plays with. We saw that against Georgia when he engineered that comeback. No moment is too big for him. Another year to keep an eye on him is good.”

As Reid explained, Chambliss is one of many Black quarterbacks who should draw immense attention throughout next season. And if they deliver, the 2027 draft could look like old times again.